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Imo Gov, APC Stakeholders Plotting To Take Over Edo Assembly, Speaker Raises Alarm

Published

5 years ago

August 5, 2020

Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye Wednesday, August 5, raised the alarm that Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma and other stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC are planning to import a fake mace to take over Edo State House of Assembly.

He alleged that this they plan to excecute in connivance with the alleged suspended Deputy Speaker of the House who recently publicly declared support for the governship candidate of the APC, Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

The Speaker, in a press conference said the “planned action is akin to lighting a match in an already tensed political environment, which according to him its conflagration is capable of causing crisis in the state.”

He continues, ” The state’s polity is already heated by the high political tension from electioneering campaigns. Their planned action is akin to lighting a match in an already tensed political environment, which conflagration is capable of causing crisis in the state, and of a scale beyond our imagination.”

Okiye, on behalf other members called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Governor and others allegedly working with him to execute the plan to desist and allow the law to prevail.

The Speaker also called on Edo people to rise against this alleged attack and plot to subvert their will and subjugate them using external forces.

He said, ” We call on President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Presidency to urgently call this governor and others working with him to execute this illegal plan to desist and allow the laws of the state to guide them.

” We call on Edo people whose mandate and interest the state’s legislature holds and protect, to rise against this planned attack and plot to subvert their will and subjugate them using external forces.

” We urge lovers of democracy across the world institutions that hold democratic tenets and values, pro-democracy groups to denounce this planned illegality that seeks to distract a duly constituted authority.”

However, reacting to the allegations, the Commissioner for Special Projects of Imo State, Mr Simon Ebegbulem said the allegations are baseless, and nonsensical.

While wondering why Uzodinma should be dragged to the political problem of Edo State, the Commissioner noted that the governor is interested in working with other APC stakeholders in reclaiming Edo State which according to him, has been APC state.

“The illegal Speaker and his governor are not making sense to me with this baseless allegation. I don’t even know what they are talking about because there is no House of Assembly in Edo state. I think that is why the so-called Speaker is running away from his shadow like a criminal that will always run once he sees a law enforcement agent.

” However, I don’t know why he should draw the leg of His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma into his political problems. My Governor is interested in working with other APC governors and stakeholders to reclaim Edo State which has been an APC state before Governor Obaseki donated it to the PDP.

” The illegal Speaker and his principal is already jittery because of the imminent defeat in the coming election. You can see that his aides are resigning every day including his Deputy Speaker. Now he is left with five lawmakers and does that show that he is in charge?,” Simon questioned.

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Tinubu Orders Defence Minister To Relocate To Kebbi State Over Abduction Of 25 School Girls

Published

3 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Matawalle, who was formerly governor of Zamfara State, was asked to remain in the state to monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students.

Gunmen abducted 24 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, around 4am on Monday.

Matawalle, who is expected to arrive in Birni-Kebbi on Friday, gained some experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

On 26 February 2021, armed bandits abducted 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State. The bandits released all the hostages on 2 March 2021.

President Tinubu had postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

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Nigeria Now Deadliest Place On Earth To Be Christian – Nigerian Bishop Laments

Published

4 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Benue State, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, says Nigeria has become the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian.

Bishop Anagbe made this statement on Thursday while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, CPC

Speaking before the US Congress, the Bishop said that the controversy escalated after President Trump designated Nigeria on the CPC list on 31 October 2025.

He alleged systematic persecution of Christians in the country, saying “Attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram have intensified, targeting Christian communities with impunity.

“More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined, yet perpetrators face little accountability.

“Violence is spreading, displacing millions and destroying farmland, creating a humanitarian crisis worsened by food insecurity. Without urgent intervention, Christianity risks being wiped out in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria.

“Nigeria, already designated a Country of Particular Concern, must now be met with decisive action,” he said.

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Christian Genocide: Back Nigeria CPC Redesignation With Action, Nigerian Bishop Begs Trump

Published

4 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, in Benue State, Wilfred Anagbe, has appealed to President Donald Trump of the United States to match its renewed designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, with concrete action.

Bishop Anagbe made this call on Thursday, while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC

He said, “On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we want to thank President Donald Trump for his bold leadership in designating Nigeria as a CPC. I commend you and this subcommittee for ongoing efforts on this matter.

“It is a vital step, but must be backed by serious action. One, use the Magnitsky Act for targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials and others tolerating or condoning Islamic violence in the country.”

The cleric also called on lawmakers to tie security and humanitarian aid to measurable improvements.

“Expand humanitarian support for IDPs. The IDPs must return to their ancestral homes, and this requires security guarantees from the Nigerian Government,” he said.

Bishop Anagbe told lawmakers that many Christian victims in Benue remain traumatised, adding that one priest he knows cannot walk after surviving a terrorist attack.

‘Deborah Samuel’s murderers remain free’ – US defends designation of Nigeria as CPC
He accused the federal government of downplaying casualty figures and abandoning survivors of repeated assaults.”

Anagbe also argued that President Donald Trump’s earlier CPC designation “aimed to stabilise Nigeria” but “worsened the safety of Christians.”